Hadley claims 'active and specific' terror threats against Wilkonshire cities, governor says 'not true'

Christon mayor, Wilkonshire governor spar over terror threats

CHRISTON, Wilk. -- The two most powerful women in Wilkonshire are publicly arguing over terrorism threats to the state.

Tara Hadley, mayor of Christon (the state's largest city), told an audience at a campaign event Wednesday that Crown Police have "active and specific threats" against cities in Wilkonshire, made by ISIS and similar terror groups.

Speaking in Piccadilly County southwest of Christon, Hadley, a Conservative who is running for governor, told a crowd of supporters that recent bombing attempts in New York are a 'wake-up call' for Grassadellians.

"Right now here in Wilkonshire, the Crown Police have confirmed there are multiple people plotting terrorist attacks. I used to be a federal prosecutor, and I have connections with Mavocke thanks to my old job. And my sources within the Crown Police and the Justice Department have confirmed there have been multiple plots disrupted here in Wilkonshire," said Hadley.

"We tend to think of terrorism as targeted toward the United States or the United Kingdom or France. But a lot of people in this country are complacent. The think, 'Oh, that will never happen here.' But in reality, it probably will happen here. These radical groups target everyone that does not conform to their extreme lifestyle and beliefs," she said.

Hadley would not elaborate on the alleged terror plots, but said multiple sources within the federal Justice Department ha confirmed the information to her.

But Wilkonshire's governor, Caroline Jepsey (N), disputed Hadley's claims, Thursday.

"It's not true. I don't know where she's getting that information, I'm not sure who her so-called sources are, but I haven't heard anything about all these threats that she's referencing. And I'd like to think if there was a credible threat made against any city in Wilkonshire, I'd like to think that someone from Collester or Counter-Terrorism would give me a call and let me know if that were the case," Jepsey told reporters Friday at a press event in Solodott County, north of Damakin Woods.

Jepsey added that Hadley's words were "incendiary and provocative, much like Ben Jordan's comments," referring to the Biereland governor who inflamed racial tensions by attempting to refuse Syrian refugees entry into his state.

"This kind of rhetoric does nothing to bridge the barriers between cultures and religions. It only serves to inflame emotions and perpetuate myths about Muslim-Grassadellians.

Hadley volleyed back, calling Jepsey "naïve" and accusing her of "burying her head in the sand."

You can't deal with the threat if you refuse to acknowledge it. Governor Jepsey is choosing political correctness over the security of her state, and that's the difference between me and her and me and the NAT candidates in this race. I will put the safety and security of my state first and foremost before anything else," said Hadley.

Jepsey has been a prominent ally of Muslim-Grassadellians, regularly meeting with Muslim leaders, appointing Muslim citizens to state commissions, and attending inter-faith religious ceremonies.

A spokeswoman for the governor said Ms. Jepsey will always stand with Muslim-Grassadellians.

"Governor Jepsey will never stop being an advocate and ally for the Muslim-Grassadellian community," said spokesman Mary Jo Kernliss.

Jepsey is term-limited, and cannot run for re-election this fall.

But four Nationalists are running to succeed Jepsey.

Attorney General Reed Powell, businessman Tom Durick, union leader Rod Winkleton, and businessman Michael Pike are all in the race, and none wasted time going after Hadley for her comments.

"I have not heard about these terrorist threats against Wilkonshireans, and from a legal perspective, as the attorney general of Wilkonshire, I would need to be alerted if there were any active investigations going," said Powell, casting doubt on Hadley's assertions.

Durick and Pike said there may indeed be terrorist threats made toward targets in Wilkonshire, but even so, Hadley's comments are counter-productive.

"This is not the kind of leadership we need from a governor," said Durick, adding that Hadley "sounded like Donald Trump."

Mr. Pike said Hadley's comments could only deepen the divide between Muslim and non-Muslim Grassadellians.

"We really need to be focusing on bringing people closer and breaking down divisions," Pike told a Christon radio station.

Mr. Winkleton said the threat of terrorism is real, but a governor should be above stereotyping and scare-mongering.

If that's the kind of governor you're going to be...someone who spends all their time spreading fear about terrorism and Muslims instead of devoting their energy and time to fixing education or health care or the social services in our state, that really tells you something about this person and the kind of governor they'd be," said Winkleton.

GNN reached out to Crown Police, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of National Security (DNS), and the Royal Guard of the Realm (RG), all of which were reluctant to comment.

A Crown Police spokesman said the agency is "always actively investigating possible threats of terrorism," but added that citizens should not live in fear of a terrorist attack.

"We are very proactive in protecting the Grassadellian people and Grassadellian assets, both here at home and abroad," said spokesman Kevin Winters.

The other agencies declined to comment, saying they do not discuss matters of national security.

Woman dies at senator's campaign fundraiser

Senator says she is 'devastated' after tragedy

AUBURNE, Biereland – A political fundraiser and social event for a Biereland senator has been marred by tragedy.

Sen. Julie Grendhau (N), who is running for re-election, was campaigning 100 miles southeast of Brookings in a rural area of McGrath County, Thursday.

A local Grendhau supporter held a “Hay ride with Julie” event at a private property in the foothills of the Grand Emkin Mountains.

Attendees purchased tickets ($400 apiece) to go on a two-mile hay ride with Grendhau. The event was supposed to culminate at a rustic lodge with coffee, apple cider, and beer to be served, along with pumpkin treats, in line with the harvest theme.

The event was cut short, however, after a woman fell off a truck and was ran over.

Karen Ellis, a 47-year-old technology sales executive from Brookings, was pronounced dead at the scene after falling off the bed of the moving truck.

Ellis was ran over by the truck, which weighed more than three tons.

Many of the more than 100 attendees were in shock and suffering from trauma, emergency responders said.

Julie Grendhau was in another vehicle when the accident occurred, but was “devastated,” her campaign manager said in a written statement.

“Yesterday, a terrible accident occurred at a campaign event. A supporter of Senator Grendhau’s died suddenly in a freak accident. Senator Grendhau is devastated by this tragedy, and is sending positive thoughts to the family and friends of the victim.”

Grendhau’s campaign said later in a post on her Facebook page that “Karen Ellis was a wonderful woman, passionate about her work and her family.”

“Above all else, Karen fought for the values we hold dear as Bierelanders and Grassadellians. Values like freedom, women’s rights, equality for the LGBTQ community, protecting the environment, criminal justice reform, and education, just to name a few.”

“Karen will always be remembered for her passionate advocacy. I am fortunate to have known her and to have earned her support in my campaign.”

Grendhau dedicated the remainder of her campaign to Ellis’ memory.

Financial disclosure records show Ms. Ellis donated $4,400 to Grendhau’s campaign over the years.

The McGrath County Sheriff’s Office has closed the investigation into the death, and the local medical examiner has ruled it “accidental.”

Despite huge cash advantage, Tom Cozier still locked in dead-heat race

Latest poll has Cozier trailing NAT opponent 49% - 51%

PARKINS, North Ceona -- He's raised more than twice as much money as his opponent, brought in big-name Conservatives to drum up support, and he's shelled out cash for big campaign ad buys. Convention says North Ceona Gov. Tom Cozier should have the advantage in the coming election, especially since he's a CNS incumbent in a Conservative-leaning state.

But Cozier isn't leading. In fact, the most recent poll released by the Parkins Star has Mr. Cozier (pronounced "co-zhure") trailing his NAT opponent, Attorney General John Ennis, 49%-51%, respectively.

Of course, a 51-49 split is hardly a guarantee. It's well within the margin of error of four points.

But the fact that Cozier - who also is chairman of the Governors Board, a prominent position that has elevated his national profile - is behind can only be concerning for his supporters. Especially after more than $4.2 million has been spent on his behalf by his campaign and outside groups.

The good news for Cozier is he has lots of time to turn things around.

The governor hasn't made any significant blunders or errors while in office. He's a highly-disciplined and experienced politician with a strong acumen for the business. And unlike several of his CNS colleagues, Cozier has been reluctant to wade into controversial social issues.

He was forced to deal with the hot-button topic du jour of refugee immigration, like most Grassadellian politicians. The issue is especially significant for Cozier, as the city of Parkins has the second-highest concentration of Muslims in Grassadellia.

But while his colleagues in South Ceona, Biereland and Remmington moved to prevent Syrian refugees from being settled in their states, Mr. Cozier extended a welcome to refugees.

"North Ceonans are kind people. We don't discriminate, we don't shut people out. We invite people in. We're the kind of people who bake cookies and take them across the street when a new neighbor moves into the neighborhood," he told reporters at the time, during a speaking engagement at the Library of Congress.

"Denying people entry into your state based on the color of their skin or the country they're from or their faith is not 'national security,' it's discrimination, and it's unconstitutional, and it's not the North Ceona way," he said.

His position won him praise from Nationalists and pro-immigration groups, including many Muslim organizations, but also earned him scorn from conservative groups, who threatened to recruit a more conservative candidate to challenge him in the primary election because of the issue.

That effort by anti-immigration activists reached a dead-end after several possible challengers declined to run, and the fractured movement, which encompasses various groups, succumbed to infighting.

The main criticism Cozier has faced is being too connected to the establishment, particularly CNS party leadership. As chairman of the Governors Board, Cozier holds a high-ranking position, which has given him a national stage.

Though he's centre-right with a solid conservative record, Mr. Cozier has been careful to tow the party line, which has been largely mainstream.

He took the middle road on refugees, welcoming them to his state but calling for increased background checks. He has consistently called for tax cuts, but opposed a planned government shutdown by staunch conservatives in Mavocke. He is personally opposed to same-sex marriage and gender-neutral bathrooms, but said he would respect the Head Court's decisions on the matters.

His predecessors in the Governors Board chairman position, Christine Gabler (N-Marchenay) and Donna Almone (C-POG), had been criticized for spending too much time out-of-state and paying too little attention to their constituents and issues back home.

Nationalists and some hardline Conservatives criticize Cozier for the same reasons. But he has made a point to spend more time back home in North Ceona, keeping a busy schedule filled with events across the state. When traveling around the country to raise money for other candidates or attend obligations for the Governors Board, he's made a point to fly back to Parkins immediately afterward, choosing not to linger out of town.

By and large, he's done a better job of balancing his responsibilities as chairman of the Governors Board with his obligations as governor of North Ceona.

So why is he trailing his NAT challenger, state Attorney General John Ennis?

A couple reasons. First, the simmering anti-establishment sentiment, which hit a boiling point in 2010 and 2012 and has now cooled off some, remains active, especially among the hard-right and working class voters.

The more substantial reason for Cozier's predicament though, is Ennis' centrist image, particularly on crime.

A well-established moderate, John Ennis is a Nationalist, but he's pretty middle-of-the-road. He has pursued tough sentences for violent offenders, at a time when his own party has embraced inmate rehabilitation and prison reform over punitive sentences.

He has strongly backed law enforcement during his tenure, and has received criticism from his own party for declining to indict six police officers accused of excessive force.

Mr. Ennis' strong, executive, administrator-like persona also plays well with voters, who want to vote for a leader, whereas Mr. Cozier is seen as more diplomatic and collaborative.

The race is nowhere near decided. It remains a dead-heat, and veteran political science professor and prognosticator Dr. Kerry Rudgley, from Dulkalow University, rates the race as a "Toss-Up."

Given Mr. Cozier's elevated status as concurrent chair of the Governors Board and the Conservative Governors Association, the race will likely be expensive.

Cozier has the clear money advantage, with his campaign bank account expected to surpass $10 million soon. The Ennis campaign reported $4.6 million at the last reporting deadline.

SWAT team shootout leaves 9-year-old POG girl, police officer dead

Five other officers wounded, two in critical condition

PARIS, Prov. of Grass. - A nine-year-old girl and a police officer are dead after a shootout in southern POG.

The Dunnigan County Sheriff's Office confirmed its SWAT team had responded to hostage situation involving a young girl and a middle-aged male in a rural area outside of the town of Paris, about 40 miles west of Lansdale.

Officers responded at 5:32 pm eastern time.

Police say they brought in a negotiator to secure the young girl's release, but the suspect refused to release her.

After two hours, officers attempted to storm the residence, where the gunman was holed up with the child.

"We sent in two teams of SWAT officers. One to rescue the child, who was in a different room, and the other to subdue the suspect. Somewhere in that ensuing action, the child was fatally struck by gunfire," said Dunnigan County Sheriff Rick Gaylord.

Officer Chris Williams, age 37, was also killed by gunfire.

Williams had been with the Dunnigan County Sheriff's Office for nine years.

Five other officers were also shot. Two of them are in critical condition at a Lansdale-area hospital.

Upon entering the home, officers fired on the suspect, but not in the direction of the child, who was several feet away from the gunman and in an adjacent room when police entered the residence, Gaylord said.

The gunman then opened fire on police, shooting in the direction of the child and a group of officers.

An investigation by a separate law enforcement agency and the medical examiner's office will determine if the girl and the officers were, in fact, killed by the gunman or accidentally by fellow police.

The young girl is believed to be the gunman's daughter or step-daughter, police said.

"We are still working on confirming the details, there is a lot of information we don't know yet for sure, so we are still trying to figure things out," said Gaylord.

"It's always a very sad situation when an innocent victim is killed, especially a young child. And then to lose a fellow officer, a friend, a colleague. That really wears on the minds and hearts of our officers. Our job is to protect and save, and sometimes we can't save the victim. Sometimes our officers don't come home after their shift," said a visibly emotional Gaylord.

"We try our best and in this case our officers acted very professionally and did everything they could. But sometimes you can't save someone, and sometimes as a police officer, you have to make the ultimate sacrifice. And that weighs on your conscience," Gaylord said.

The suspect was shot multiple times and killed instantly. He has not been identified yet pending notification of next of kin.

Authorities have only confirmed that the deceased suspect was a white male in his 30's or 40's. They say the suspect may have been under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the time of the incident.

POG Governor Donna Almone, who was in North Ceona campaigning for her presidential campaign at the time of the tragedy, called Sheriff Gaylord to express her condolences.

"Our hearts are with the law enforcement community tonight in Dunnigan County, and with the family of the little girl who was killed. Such an awful situation, and tonight our hearts go out to this community," she said while speaking in North Gallaghan, North Ceona.

Almone also ordered flags statewide to be flown at half-mast on Monday, in honor of Officer Chris Williams.

Steve Kolotano won't endorse his brother in Biereland Senate race

Brothers are from opposing political parties

BROOKINGS, Biereland -- The political drama in Biereland's Senate race is heating up, but it's not surrounding former senator Driscoll Sherber, who is running for the Senate again after he left in disgrace following an extramarital affair and electoral backlash in 2010.

The drama is actually centering around the other Conservative candidate in the race, businessman Pete Kolotano, older brother of another former Biereland senator, Steve Kolotano (N).

The younger Kolotano (Steve), was a Conservative until switching parties in 2008. He went on to rise in the leadership ranks of the Senate Nationalists, serving as chair of the National Senate Campaign Organization (NSCO) in 2010.

Mr. Kolotano left the Senate in 2011 after being chosen randomly for the Senate Reduction Lottery.

He ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor alongside Gov. San Bartholomew in 2014, and has worked at a Brookings law firm since leaving politics.

Fast forward to this year, 2016. There's a Kolotano on the ballot, but it's not Steve, the former senator. It's Pete Kolotano, the eldest Kolotano.

Unlike his kid brother, Pete Kolotano remains a Conservative. He recently opened up about his relationship with his brother in an interview with The Gavel, a Mavocke-based political blog.

"We don't talk much or see each other much," said Pete.

He blamed their strained relationship partly on politics.

"After switching parties, I felt like Steve lost his integrity. He lost his moorings. He traded his values, which we were raised with when we were growing up, and he became a completely different person. Not just liberal, but adamantly supporting Nationalist politicians who are exactly the type of people who work against small businesses, like our family business that my parents operated when we were kids."

"A lot of people in my family felt betrayed by Steve's actions. He became more obsessed with climbing the ranks of the Nationalist Party rather than being a voice for the people who elected him back here at home," said the elder Kolotano.

For his part, Steve Kolotano says there is more to the story.

"There's a lot of family dynamics going on behind the scenes that people don't know about," the former senator told a reporter last week, while walking in downtown Brookings.

The Conservative-turned-Nationalist says he didn't forsake his values. Just the opposite, he insists.

"My values stayed the same. My values of equality and freedom and the government staying out of people's personal lives. Those values never changed. Unfortunately, the Conservative Party changed, and went from being the party of freedom and libertarian views to the party of religious extremism and animosity toward the LGBTQ community. That was the turning point for me."

Mr. Kolotano maintains that he is a centrist. He still supports a strong military and pro-business policy.

But he will not be endorsing his older brother in the Biereland Conservative primary election.

"We have very different views. I believe in marriage equality, in fair treatment for our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, I believe in a compassionate approach to immigration, in opening our borders to those in need and fleeing persecution. Pete believes in traditional marriage. He supports Ben Jordan's policy on immigrants. And he supports the same old failed trickle-down Conservative economic policies. So I can't endorse someone that holds those views," said the senator.

Kolotano will instead be endorsing the NAT candidate, incumbent Sen. Julie Grendhau (pronounced "Gren-dow").

"Julie is a dear friend, she's an advocate for Biereland, an advocate for protecting minorities, vulnerable citizens, our environment, creating a more fair economy. She's done a lot of great things for Biereland and she deserves a second term," he said.

Before facing off with Grendhau, his brother Pete Kolotano must defeat former senator Driscoll Sherber, a once-prominent leader in the populist Freedom Warriors movement.

Sherber was defeated by Grendhau in 2010 after he admitted an extramarital affair with a Senate aide.

This is his first run for office since his defeat.

Over the past six years, Mr. Sherber has kept a low profile, working as a campaign advisor to many Biereland Conservatives. He also worked as a carpet salesman at a Brookings-area carpet and linoleum store.

Initially after his affair became public, Mr. Sherber and his wife Emily remained in the spotlight, appearing on TV talk shows, news programs, and granting interviews to magazines.

They then went into obscurity until last year, when Mr. Sherber quietly began making appearances on the STAR Network as a paid pundit.

He announced back in April he would challenge Grendhau, whom he views as vulnerable.

"She's embraced a liberal agenda since going to Mavocke. She's voted with the far left on virtually every issue, and Bierelanders are tired of east coast liberals trying to dictate to us how to do things out west. Julie Grendhau's voting record is more representative of the politics of Grassadellia City or Monvaille, not the value of Bierelanders," said Sherber.

His fellow Conservative, Pete Kolotano, agrees.

"Julie has failed Biereland. She has become beholden to John Morandi (Senate Majority Leader) and Brenton Menuhaeo than to Bierelanders," said Kolotano.

Mr. Kolotano, who entered the race after Sherber did, says he respects his CNS rival, but believes Sherber is too divisive to win a general election.

"Look, I like Driscoll. He's a bright guy, he's well-educated and he's right on a lot of the issues. But he is too divisive to beat Julie Grendhau this fall. His particular brand of politics is very partisan, and that may play well in deeply Conservative areas, but Biereland is a battleground state. If we're going to beat Julie Grendhau, it's going to be because we picked a solid conservative who can win over independents and disaffected Nationalists. Driscoll can't do that. The only group of voters he wins with is the conservative base," said Kolotano.

That's one thing the Kolotano brothers have in common. The both agree Driscoll Sherber is too extreme to win a general election.

"Driscoll Sherber appeals to the far right, but not the centrist middle. He is too extreme, too partisan. He's a very divisive person. His deficiencies as a candidate have nothing to do with his personal scandals but more to do with his combative demeanor and his refusal to compromise," Steve Kolotano told the Boomerang Politics website.

Both Kolotanos pointed out that Mr. Sherber angered his Senate colleagues when he was in office, because of his eagerness to buck party elders and his unwillingness to compromise.

"He's probably pissed off just as many Conservatives as Nationalists," said Steve. "He was not a popular guy in either party when he was in the Senate. A lot of people were happy to see him go."

Steve Kolotano said he is willing to meet with his brother for coffee sometime.

"I'd be open to that, yes," said the junior Kolotano.

But he will not donate money or campaign for his brother.

"I would like to see him beat Sherber," Steve said. "But I will be supporting Julie Grendhau in the fall."

"He's free to make up his own mind and support whichever candidate he so chooses," said Pete. "If he wants to support me, great. But if not, that's his choice and this is Grassadellia, it's our right to support any political party or candidate we want."